Piano case



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Patented Jan. 27, 1931 PATENT OFFICE WEBSTER E. JANSSEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PIANO CASE Application filed February 11, 1928. Serial No. 253,603.

My invention relates to piano cases for enclosing the usual piano action and keys, and more particularly for such piano cases em- 7 bodying the customary equipment and attachments for a writing desk or secretary, into which the piano case may be converted at will.

The objects of my invention are, among other things, to provide a new and improved 1i) piano case of this combined type for an upright piano in which the various parts usually embodied in a piano as well as in a collapsible writing desk are conveniently and compactly arranged within the customary outline or contour of the writing desk so that this improved piano case may be readily transformed from a writing desk to a piano case in open position for manual playing,and vice versa, with a minimum movement and coaction of parts in the two devices which are disposed so as to be not likely to get out of position. A further feature is to provide an adjustable music-rack in conjunction with the foldable cover for the piano keys and writing desk in conjunction with the cover for the desk compartments which will support the foldable cover in closed position through the music slip of the rack; also to render the desk compartments built as a unit so as to be readily detachable from the piano case to enable the piano to be tuned and for other purposes.

Further objects and advantages of my improved piano case will be hereinafter set forth and the drawings show a preferred embodiment of my invention in which- Fig. 1 is a pers ctive view of the piano case with the folda le cover raised and music resting on the rack;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged end elevation of Fig. 1 with the middle portion shown in vertical section;

Fig. 3 is a detail side view partly in vertical section showing the foldable cover in closed position;

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view showing the piano case converted into a writing desk;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of the piano case shown in Fig. 4, the middle portion being illustrated in vertical section; and

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view taken on the line GG of Fig. 2.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several figures.

Referring to the drawings, the piano case proper comprises the side-pieces 7 supported on the feet 8 which rest. on the floor with the front panel 5) connecting the two side-pieces 7 below the keyboard 10. Two side-drawers 11 are suitably fastened to the side pieces 7 below the keyboard 10, while the top 12 of the, writing desk of any suitable design or form rests on the flat top 13 of the piano case as shown.

The piano action shown in Figs. 2 and 5 is of the customary construction for upright pianos, and comprises the back plate 14, the strings or wires 15 (only one being shown) and the hammer 16. The hammer 16 is actuated from the whippen 17 with connecting mechanism from the bar 18, the lower end of which rests on the inner end of the piano key 19 held on the balance rail20 by the balance pin 21. The rest rail 22 holds the hammer 16 in its normal retractive position as shown. The key-slip 23 extends horizontally below the front edge of the piano keys 19 and is fastened to the key-board 10 in the usual manner.

Referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 5, the cross bar 24 extends across the piano case below the top-piece 13 and the hinge 25 fastened to the bar 24 is also securedto the upper portion 26 constituting a part of the foldable cover for the piano case and writing desk. The lower portion 27 of the cover is hinged to the lower edge of the upper portion 26 as shown to form .the two-piece foldable cover as illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and The lower edge 28 of the cover portion 27 is formed to coact with and fit snugly against the key-slip 23 (Fig. 3), and is provided with the but-ton 29 which serves as a handle for the cover portion 27 and also as a rest against the bar 24 for this portion 27 when raised and supported in parallelism with the cover-portion 26 to form the music-rack with the music slip 30 attached to the lower exposed side of the cover portion 27 (Fig. Hinged at 31 to the cover portion 26 is the pivoted two-arm bracket 32 held by the adjustable pin 33 which coacts with the slot 34 formed in one of the side-pieces 7 (Fig. 6). By this device the oblique position ofthe music rack may be varied at will, and by removing the pin 33 from the slot 34, the music-rack (comprising the cover portions 26 and 27) may be swung upwardly as a whole on the hinge 25 to provide ready access to the tuning pins etc. of the piano action. I

Referring more particularly to Fig. 4, the writing desk compartment 35. comprising drawers 36, pigeon-holes 37 and shelves 38, is preferably formed as a single unit which is removably attached at both ends to the side-pieces 7 by the brackets 39 secured at either end to such side-pieces 7 by screws 40 (Figs. 2 and By such construction this unit may be easily removed from the piano case when any repairs or tuning of the piano action become necessary.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 2, 3 and 5, the inner end 41 of the desk top slidably rests on the transverse cross-bar 42 extending above the piano keys 19 and the bar 42 is fastened in any suitable manner to the side-pieces 7 of the piano-case. The desk top inner end 41 is provided with the hinge 43 along its front edge to which is fastened the outer desk top 44 which when swung to a horizontally alined position with the inner top 41 forms a continuous flat surface for the writing desk (Fig. Fastened at right angles to the resk top 44 at either end near the hinge 43 is the curved brace member 45 having the sides 45 and handle buttons 46 to bear on coacting buttons 47 projecting from the key-slip 23 (Fig. 5) to aid in holding the outer desk top 44 firmly in writing iosition'. When the two desk top members 41 and 44 are folded back in contacting position as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, they are adapted to be moved rearwardly into the piano case beneath the bottom 48 of the desk compartment unit 35 with the brace 45 forming a cover for the pigeon holes 37 and shelves 38 (Fig. 2), while the buttons 46 advantageously serve as convenient handles when the operator desires to advance the desk top members 41 and 44 from their Fig. 2 to their Fig. 5 position when transforming the piano case into position for manual piano playing 1.) to its writing desk position (Fig. 4).

T he operation of my improved piano case construction is apparent from the drawings. Figs. 1 and 2 show the position of the various parts of thepiano case and writing desk when the case is open and in readiness for manual playing. The two piece foldable cover portions 26 and 27 are folded together to form the music-rack with the music sheet resting on the music slip 30 and the buttons 29 supporting the top of the rack against the bar 24. Fig. 3 shows the foldable cover portions 26 and 27 extended in oblique alinement to close the case with the music slip 3O braced by the curved portion 011 the brace member 45 to hold the middle po tion of the foldable cover the sides 45 of such brace member 45 slipping between the side-pieces 7 and desk unit Figs. 4 and 5 show the piano case converted into a writing desk. T he brace member 45 is drawn forwardly by the buttons 46 by which the two desk top pieces 41 and 44 areiadvance-d over the piano keys 19 by being moved from their Fig. 2 to their Fig. 5 positions, the desk top 44 being also swung to horizontal position (Fig. 5) to complete the desk top with the buttons 46 of the brace member 45 bearing on the buttons 47 to support the top 44.

The advantages of my improved piano case will be readily appreciated in providing a compact and readily convertible, case and writing desk which will occupy a minimum space or area in the room of a house or apartment. Many details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from my invention. Furthermore an organ or like musical instrument playing action having the usual operating keys be substituted for the piano action shown as a preferred embodiment of my invention with the same advantages and economieswhich I have hereinbefore described.

I claim as my invention 1.. A musical instrument case comprising a playing action compartment having an opening toward the front over the manually-operated keys and a two piece writing desk top foldable upon itself and slidable within the openingQsaid top in retracted folded position within the opening exposing said keys, while in its unfolded and extended position expos ing the opening and covering said keys.

' 2. 1L musical instrument case. comprising a playing action compartment having an opening toward the front over the manually-op erated keys and a two piece writing desk top foldable upon itself and horizontally extensihle within the opening, said top in retracted folded position within the opening exposing said keys, while in its unfolded and extended position exposing the opening and covering said keys.

3. A musical instrument case comprising a playing action compartment having an opening toward the front over the manually-operated keys, a two piece writing desk top foldable upon itself and slidably within the opening, said top in retracted folded position within the opening exposing said keys, while in its unfolds land extended position expos ing the opening and covering said keys, and

means attached to theouter desk top piece adjacent its hinge and bearing against the case to support the desk top in horizontal position.

4. A musical instrument case comprising a playing action compartment having an opening toward the front over the manually-operated keys, a two piece writing desk top foldable upon itself and slidable within the opening, said top in retracted folded position within the opening exposing said keys, while in its unfolded and extended position exposing the opening and covering said keys, and means attached to the outer desk top piece adjacent itshinge and bearing against the case to support the desk top in horizontal position, said means covering said opening in the playing action compartment when the desk top is in folded retracted position within the opening.

A musical instrument case comprising a playing action compartment having an openin g toward the front over the manually-operated keys, and a writing desk compartment of shelves and pigeon holes formed as a unit removably attached to said case within said playing action compartment over said opening in spaced relationship both to said playing action and keys.

(3. A musical instrument case comprising a playing action compartment having an opening toward the front over the manually-operated keys, and a writing desk compartment of shelves and pigeon holes formed as a unit and arranged in front of said action and removably attached to said ease within said playing action compartment over said opening in spaced relationship both to said playing action and keys.

7. A musical instrument case comprising a playing action compartment having an opening toward the front over the manuallyoperated keys, a writing desk compartment of shelves and pigeon holes formed as a unit and attached as a unit to the side pieces of the case in spaced relationship therewith and over said opening, a two piece hinged writing desk top foldablein mutual parallelism and horizontally slidable within the opening and in its extended and unfolded position to provide a flat top exposing the opening and covering said keys, a brace member having side-pieces bearing against the case to support the desk top when extended, said brace member forming a cover for the desk compartment when the desk-top is in folded inoperative position with said brace side-pieces passing etween said compartment unit and the side pieces of said case.

8. A musical instrument casehaving a two piece hinged cover foldable upon itself to provide a music rack, a music slip attached to the lower cover piece adjacent the hinge and means comprising a pivoted two-arm bracket, one of said arms removably cooperating with the case to adjust the open position of said music rack at different angles.

9. A musical instrument case having a two piece hinged cover foldable upon itself to provide a music rack, a music slip attached to the lower cover piece adjacent the hinge and means comprising a pivoted two-arm bracket cooperating with the case to adtjust the open engaging a slot in said case to permit the cover to be swung outwardly and free from the case when said pin is disengaged from said slot.

10. A musical instrument case having a two piece hinged cover to provide a music rack and having a thereto attached music slip, a two piece hinged writing-desk top foldable upon itself within the case and slidably extensible when unfolded to provide a horizontal desk top, and means attached to said desk top and bearing against the case to support the top when in its extended and unfolded position, said means when the desk-top is folded in, inoperative position in the case forming a support for the cover by having a bearing contact with said music slip.

11. A combined musical instrument case and writing desk having in combination a playing action compartment with an opening toward the front over the manually-operated keys, and a writing-desk top comprising two flat pieces hinged together to be foldable in mutual parallelism and also slidable within said compartment opening over said keys, said desk top in folded position within the opening exposing said keys, but in unfolded and horizontally extensible position exposing the opening and forming a flat desk top in front of the case and covering said keys.

\VEBSTER E. ANSSEN. 

